"Diwali ki Saaf Safai"- (Diwali special cleaning); it's not just a normal cleaning session; it's an emotion in every Indian household. From detangling mirchi lights to applying cleaning spray on every piece of furniture, Diwali cleaning sessions are never less than a comedy circus. It's that time when all the family members gather together for a strictly planned cleaning session. Generally, the moms head this session but unfortunately fail to avoid the chaos and nuisance. That's where we come into the picture. This article will discuss the festive special cleaning checklist that will ease your life and make this a fun, engaging session.
When you think of Diwali, the first thing that comes to mind is cleaning. There are so many things one needs to do during this festive season, and it is a lot of work, but we all know how much our moms love doing it. This post will list a few things you can do to make the house look beautiful without spending a single penny.
Here are some tips to kickstart your Diwali cleaning session:
- Start your cleaning session at least 2 weeks prior to avoid the last-minute hustle.
- First things first, take out the old things and make way for new stuff in your home. Take out old decorations and light bulbs from the house.
- Clean the front door, window panes, doormat and other outside areas.
- Make a list of all the things that need to be done around your house. Set aside at least 1 hour every day for cleaning up your home. This will help you avoid the last-minute mess.
- Take out all the garbage from your home and keep it in an open place where it can be easily collected by garbage collectors or hired help on Diwali day (if you have hired help).
- Paint your walls with white paint so they don't get dirty during Diwali because people will come inside your home and sit on those dirty floors, which might cause stains on their clothes etc.
Diwali cleaning checklist:
Dusting:
Before beginning different rooms and corners, it is essential to dust the home. Give dusting duties to everyone in your family, as this is one of their favourite tasks during this festive season! Everyone loves dusting or sweeping floors, so why not give them this task? This is also a great way for kids to learn about cleaning up their rooms and helping mom get things done around the house so she doesn't have to do everything herself.
- Wipe off the dust from wall tiles, doors and windows with a damp cloth or sponge to remove dirt and grime.
- Dust furniture with a feather duster or clean cloth to remove dried-up dust particles from the furniture.
- Dust all picture frames with a soft, dry cloth to get rid of dust built up on them.
Start with the living room:
Your living room is the face of an Indian household. It is the place where you welcome the guest, so make sure to decorate it like a newlywed bride. Then, get your home ready for Diwali celebrations.
- The room should have been cleaned and de-cluttered.
- The centre shall be shiny and fully stocked with all the ingredients needed to make the delicious sweets, snacks, and food you will be serving to your guests.
- Get plant-based multipurpose cleaners for the home, like TheBetterHome's multipurpose cleaner. You can easily spray this non-toxic cleaner on Tv stands, shoe racks, sofas, tables, etc.
Sort out your kitchen:
After the living room, the hotspot of any Indian house would be the kitchen. After all, that's the place that produces all the aromatic Kaju katlis or Gajar ka Halwa.
- The pantry should have all the ingredients and spices needed for cooking a storm of delicious food that will leave your guests craving more.
- Clean out your refrigerator and freezer, toss all expired food items, and clean out any clutter like old receipts or junk mail accumulated over time. Also, clean out the shelves inside it too! This can be done by removing everything from it, including expired or past expiry dates (like milk).
- Make a solution with equal parts of lemon juice and vinegar, and clean your kitchen cabinets.
- If the microwave or gas burners have oily stains, you can use bio-degradable kitchen cleaners like TheBetterHome's Kitchen Degreaser. This chemical-free kitchen cleaner is formulated with naturally derived ingredients, leaving no side effects on your health.
- Wash all your dishes with hot water and soap and keep them in a dish rack or drying rack so that dirt doesn't get stuck on them again
Washroom:
Here comes the most critical part of your Diwali cleaning; cleaning the washroom. Though it is necessary to clean your washroom daily, here are some tips for Diwali special cleaning session:
- Clean the toilet bowl with chemical-free bathroom cleaners to avoid health hazards and odours coming from it in future.
- Mix 3 cups of distilled vinegar, 1 cup of Epsom salt and a few drops of antibacterial essential oil. This mixture will help you get rid of hard stains.
- Scrub the sink with baking soda to eliminate unhygienic pink slime residues.
- Squeeze lemon juice in soap water to get shiny and fresh bathroom tiles.
